The new ‘City Wide’ Safer Neighbourhood Teams have now been underway for a month and I am pleased to report that they have been very well received. Officers have been able to build on well-established links, identify problems affecting our communities, and take action to tackle them. The increased visibility will ensure that crime rates are kept low and public confidence will be strengthened. To this end, I can also report that we are continuing to perform extremely well in all aspects of business, despite competing demands on our time and resources.

Preparations are well underway for the Festive period and the Hogmanay celebrations. Operation Astrodome will commence soon and we will be working with our partners to ensure that both residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience both in the City Centre and when returning home. We will also be heavily involved in the Festive drink driving campaign, ensuring that the Capital’s roads are safe places to be.

Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, 'A' Divisional Commander.

All That Glitters ...

May not be gold but it usually catches someone’s eye - try not to make it a thief’s.

For a safe and enjoyable Christmas, follow these simple tips;

Stay alert in crowded shops and streets and be wary of pickpockets.

Be careful with your wallet or purse - keep it close to your body and don’t carry too much cash and look after bank and credit cards.

If using your car; always park in a well-lit area, lock all the doors, windows and boot; and don’t leave presents or other valuables on view.

At Home

Whether at home or out; remember to lock the doors and windows

If you go out for the evening, make it look like someone is at home - leave the lights and the radio on and use a timer switch.

Don’t leave your Christmas presents and valuables in your house in positions where thieves can see them through the windows.

Local Operation and initiatives

Anti Social Behaviour

While out on patrol officers have been made aware of
concerns regarding issues on and around the Union Canal cycle path. As a result, the Fountainbridge/Craiglockart SNT have sourced six mountain bikes, and trained up a number of officers, so that we can patrol the areas more efficiently. These bikes are now used to supplement our existing foot patrols in areas at times that have been identified as ‘ones to watch’.

Even at this early stage the initiative has proved very successful. Our officers have identified and reported a number of youths for vandalisms relating to graffiti and our officers detected a male committing an assault on the canal path for which he was arrested and reported.

We will continue to focus our patrols in this area and hopefully give you further peace of mind that you can use the cycle path without fear of crime

Street Surgeries

Now that the new Safer Neighbourhood Team is up and running in Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart it is our intention to hold regular street surgeries in your area. Our SNT officers in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council Community Safety team will hold these surgeries in venues local to you.

These surgeries will give you, the community, the opportunity to come along and meet your local Safer Neighbourhood Team and Community Safety Officers. It will also give you the opportunity to discuss the problems you are experiencing in your neighbourhood, giving us the opportunity to work together to tackle these issues.

Details of the dates and venues of these surgeries will be advertised in your area in due course.

Appeal for information

We continue to rely on the support of the community in reporting incidents as they occur.

We also rely on your support in providing us with information you may have in relation to offences committed in your area to help us detect these crimes and keep your community safe.

Over the past four weeks there has been in the region of eight pedal cycles stolen from the Hutchison, Ashley areas, most of which were stolen from communal stairs.

Any information relating to thefts of bikes (persons responsible, where they are stored, how they are being sold on) can be passed on to the police.

You can also do this anonymously by calling Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111.

December is traditionally a time for nights out to celebrate the end of a hard year and many of those attending will drink more alcohol than they would normally.

Top Tips For A Safe Night Out

Know how you are getting home. Know where and when the night buses leave or arrange to get picked up from somewhere central and safe. Have a reliable taxi number in your mobile as Private Hire cars are not allowed to pick up passengers who have not pre-booked.

Don’t drink and drive. Even small amounts of alcohol adversely affect reaction times. You could be arrested and lose your driving license or worse you could lose your life or be responsible for the death of someone else.

Look after your property. Don’t leave your bag over the back of your chair and keep wallets and purses close to your body to make it more difficult for thieves. Be alert to sneak thieves in pubs, clubs and restaurants.